Clutch mechanism.



I. D. PLATTER, DEG'D. J. G. nouns, ADMINISTRATOR.

CLUTCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.10,1906.

Patented May 11, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT ornron.

JOHN G. ROBERTS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ADMINISTRATOR OF FRANK D. PLATTER, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CLUTCH 1511.

Specification of Letters Patent. Original application filed June 10, 1906, Serial, No. 284,570. Dividedand this application flied December 10, 1906.

Patented flay 11', 1909.

Serial N0. 847,124.

proved means for controlling the connection of a driving shaft with mechanism to be driven.

Generally speaking, the invention contemplates the provision of two clutch memhere, one of said members being loosely mounted upon a driving shaft and in frictional engagement with a driving wheel,

while the other member of the clutch is s lined to rotate with the driving shaft.

itli this arrangement, when the. clutch members are brought into engagement, the driving wheel slipsupon the clutch members with which it is in frictional engagement, and said drivin wheel is gradually brought up to speed. he result is very advantagoons, since the said clutch mechanism may e conveniently employed with machines which must have a gradual acceleration of speed up to the maximum point. The ar rangement described also prevents injury to the clutch members when they are thrown into en agement.

I wil describe the invention by reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent a clutch embodying the invention, re+

. combinations whic I consi er novel.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a clutch embodying the invention, Fig. 2 a longitudinal sectional view of the clutch; Fig. 3 is a cross section through the driving wheel and one member of the clutch; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the two clutch members in position for en agement. Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the rocking lever enga in the movable member of the clutch, wit t e grease cu at its free end.

The same numerals of reference indicate like parts wherever they are shown.

The clutch mechanism is shown mounted upon a driving shaft 1 in position to control the connection of said shaft with a driving wheel 2. A pair of clutch members 3, 4, are provided, the member 3 being loosely mount ed upon the shaft and inclosed by the hollow driving wheel 2, whose inner surface lies in frictional engagement with the peri hery of said member 3-. The other mem er 4 is splined to rotate with the shaft 1, and is adapted to be moved along said shaft into or out of engagement with its mate, the two members 3, 4, having gear teeth adapted to mesh. Said member 4 may be provided with longitudinal slots 5 therein m which keys 6 secured to the shaft are adapted to ride to spline the clutch member to the shaft. The clutch member 3 is provided with a number of holes 16, 16, in its eriphery, in which are mounted frictional pins 7, 7, referably of fiber, these pins being forme at their ends with a curvature slightly reater than that of the inside surface of the riving wheel. Springs 8, 8, are located within the holes 16, 16, to bear against the pins 7, 7, and force the same outwardly against the inner surface of the wheel 2, to maintain a constant and uniform frictional en 'agement between the clutch member 3 an% the driving wheel 2, and to take up any wear between said parts. By having the curvature of the fiber pins as indicated, it is possible to accommodate the mechanism to the wear of the pins and the consequent decrease in pressure of the springs, for, as the pins are Worn away, their surface of contact nicreas'es. By this means I am enabled to obtain an almost constant frictional engagement. The driving wheel 2 may comprise a hub 9 loosely mounted upon the driving shaft,- and connected by a web 10 with the outer driving shell 11, the. clutch member 3 being loosely mounted upon said hub between the same and the shell 11. Said clutch member3 may be confined withinthe driving wheel by a suitable plate 12. The

lar grooves 13 in its inner surface, which may be filled with graphite or other lubricant. The he s 6 may be carried upon a collar 14 secure to the driving shaft and abutting against the end of the hub 9, said clutch member 4 being mounted to slide longi-. tudinally upon said hub 9 and collar 14.

The free end of the rocking arm or lever, to which the handle is attached, carries a grease reservoir or cup 17, which is connected by a passage 18 leadin through the rockin arm or lever 15 with the groove 20 in the collar 19 carried b clutch member 4, a passage leading to tiie bearing of the clutch member through holes in the bottom of the groove 20, to lubricate said roove and bearmg together with the thrust earin of member 9 against member 14. It wil thus be seen that when the clutch members 3, 4, are closed by the lever 15, the driving wheel 2 will not be immediately brought u to the speed of the shaft, owing to the rictional enga ement between the member 3 of the clutc and the driving wheel, but, due to the slip, the speed of said wheel will be gradually accelerated until it reaches the maximum speed.

The clutch mechanism of this invention is capable ofadvantageous use, for example, in connection with wire insulating machines, such as shown in the application of Frank D. Platter, Serial No. 264,570, filed June 10, 1905, of which this case is a division.

I claim:

1. The combination with a rotatable shaft, of a member loosely mounted on said shaft, a member adapted to rotate with said shaft, pins carried by one of said members and arranged to frictionally engage with said other member, the ends of said pins gradually increasing inwardly in cross-sectional area, said pins being thus provided with contact surfaces adapted to increase in area as the pins wear down, and means for bringing said members into operative engagement with each other and with said shaft.

2. In a clutch mechanism, the combination with a driving shaft, of a driving wheel loosely mounted on said shaft, clutch mechanism for connecting said Wheel to said shaft, said clutch mechanism carrying pins having a frictional contact with said driving wheel, the ends of said pins gradually increasing inwardly in cross-sectional area, said pins bein thus provided with contact surfaces adapte to increase in area as the pins Wear down, and means for bringing the clutch mechanism into operative engagement with said driving wheel.

3. In a clutch mechanism, the combination with a driving shaft, of a pair of clutch members carried thereby, one of said members being loosely mounted upon said shaft, a driving wheel inclosing said clutch member and constant within holes in the periphery of said clutch member, springs wit lill said holes for forcing said pins outwardly against the inner surface of said drivin wheel to maintain a uniform frictional contact between said clutch member and the wheel, the other clutch member being splined to said shaft, and means for controlling the engagement of said clutch members.

4. In a clutch mechanism, the combination with. a drivin shaft, of a pair of clutch members carried t iereby, one of said members being loosely mounted upon said shaft, a driving wheel in frictional contact with said member, the other member beings lined to the shaft, an annular collar carrie by said member having an annular roove in the periphery thereof, said collar aving a hole therein leading from said groove to the shaft, a lever for moving said last mentioned member, one end of said lever resting insaid groove, said collar having an openin therein eading from the, groove therein to t e shaft, and a grease cup or reservoir upon theother end of said lever, said lever havin a passage leading from said reservoir to sai groove.

5. In a clutch mechanism, the combination with a driving shaft, of a hollow drivin wheel comprising a collar loosely mounte upon the shaft, and an outer driving shell connected therewith, annular grooves in the inner surface of said collar, graphite in said grooves to serve as a lubricant, a pair of clutch members, one of said members bein located within said drivin wheel in frictiona en agement with said co lar and the outer dis a collar abutting against said first mentioned collar and secured to the shaft, a rib upon said collar adapted to move in a longitudinal groove in the other clutch member, and means for controlling the engagement of said members.

6. In a clutch mechanism, the combination with the driving shaft, of a pair of clutch members carried thereby, one of said members being loosely mounted upon said shaft, and carrying pins having frictional contact with a driving wheel also loosely mounted on said shaft, said pins provided with contact surfaces adapted to increase in area as the pins wear down, the other clutch member being keyed to rotate with the said shaft, and means for moving said clutch members into or out of engagement.

7. In a clutch mechanism, the combination with a driving shaft, of a pair of clutch members carried thereby, one of said members being loosely mounted upon said shaft, a driving Wheel inclosing said clutch member and in frictional contact with the periphery thereof, frictional pins movably mounted within holes in the periphery of said clutch member, said pins having their ends curved In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe with a curvature less than that of the inmy name this 4th day of December A. D.

closed driving wheel, springs within said 1906. holes for forcing said pins outward against JOHN G. ROBERTS 5 the inner surface of said driving wheel, to

maintain a constant frictional contact be- Administrator Qfthe estate of Frank tween said clutch member and wheel, the] deceased outer clutch member being spline-d to said Witnesses: shaft, and means for controlling the engage- ROY T. ALLOWAY,

10 ment of said clutch members. E. F. BEAUBIEN. 

